Bayern Munich v Barcelona, Champions League semi-final second leg - First-half
brace from Neymar seals Catalans' place in the final

The footballing gods are smiling, laughing, revelling in the prospect. They are having their way, having guided one of their own, Lionel Messi, to the final of the Champions League in Berlin on June 6. The most accomplished footballer in the world, a winning blend of glorious talent and prodigious work rate, now graces the most important match of the year.

“Messi is just incredible,” reflected his former coach at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola, now shaping Bayern Munich’s destiny. “He is really strong, really fast, and back to his best just as when I used to train him. He is the best player of all time. I can compare him with Pele.” Or Diego Maradona. Messi deserves mention in such legendary company.

Audiences around the globe, and particularly in Europe, are used to Messi the goalscorer, the elegant disabler of defences. Here at Bayern, it was Messi’s other qualities, his creativity, his appetite for contributing to team orders, pressing opponents, that so impressed.

Messi was magical. Again. Truly, it is a privilege to be following football in the age of this fabulous Argentine. It is not simply the artistry, agility and intelligence that he brings to moves time and again, shredding defences and conquering keepers with such elegance. It is the work off the ball, hounding Juan Bernat and Bastian Schweinsteiger here, making sure Bayern laboured to progress down their left.

“We had to make sure they didn’t surprise us,’’ said Barcelona’s coach, Luis Enrique, explaining a system that at times was 4-1-4-1 with Messi and Neymar covering their respective full-backs, Dani Alves and Jordi Alba. “We forced the opponent to attack us so they had to take some risk,” continued Enrique, giving an insight into his strategy for withstanding Bayern surges than hitting quickly on the break, pouring into the gaps.

Bayern’s need for goals ensured they pushed up and their defence was simply not good enough to combat attackers of the quality of Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar. Suárez was selflessness personified, running hard, taking passes from Messi and setting up both of Neymar’s first-half goals which really killed off the tie.

“It goes without saying that they have great individual qualities,’’ said Enrique of his front three. “They are very good together, work together well, and it is very difficult for opponents to control these players.”

Enrique was embraced by Guardiola at the final whistle and then praised. “Luis Enrique does really good work,’’ said Guardiola. “I want to pay a big compliment to Barcelona. I hope in Berlin they can win their fifth Champions League. They do a good job. Barcelona are very strong at the back.”

Marc-André ter Stegen made some fine saves in the first period, particularly a tip-over from Schweinsteiger and low stop from Robert Lewan-dowski. German goalkeeping does not start and end with Manuel Neuer.

“And of course up front they are really strong,’’ continued Guardiola. “When Barcelona have the ball, they are just so strong and there is nothing you can do about that.” Indeed.

Although Bayern won through goals from Medhi Benatia, Lewan-dowski and Thomas Müller, the damage had been done in the Nou Camp, where they conceded a double to Messi and another to Neymar. Any ambitions here were stymied by the work of Messi, Suárez and Neymar in the first half.

Bayern were applauded by their marvellous fans at the final whistle, and the victory has to be seen as more than merely Pyrrhic for Guardiola.

Overcoming the best team in Europe, albeit over 90 minutes not 180, will have silenced some of the shrill voices raised against the Bayern coach, and surely eased his path towards next season, and another shot at the Champions League.

“I am proud to be the manager of this team,’’ said Guardiola, again emphasising his commitment to Bayern after talk of his moving to Manchester City. “I am very happy. I am in the project phase here. I would like to play better and have all my best players available for my project. But I don’t.” Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and David Alaba were all missed.

Yet it needs highlighting that Guardiola surely has to drill his defence with greater vigour. Within half an hour, Bayern had needed a miracle, a Red Adair in a red shirt, snookers. They had trailed 2-1, their defence shapeless and hapless, victims of a merciless Barcelona. The visitors were not simply from another country; they were from another planet in the first half.

Bayern had done everything to stoke up the atmosphere, to try to make the wonderful Allianz Arena as intimidating as possible. The “one city, one dream” mosaic, the drums, the rhythmic clapping and the bouncing up and down made the ground reverberate but it was always going to take more to shake the equilibrium and focus of Messi and company.

It was always going to need so much more than a fan standing on the fence, with No 12 on his back, screaming into a megaphone to disturb the composure of the stellar calibre of Messi, Suárez and Neymar. Many Bayern supporters were so in awe of Messi that when the Barcelona No 10 glided across to take a corner, they greeted him with raised cameraphones, capturing the moment when they were in the presence of greatness.

Bayern briefly believed, even taking the lead after seven minutes, making this magnificent stadium almost leap from its foundations in joy. Bayern kept pressing, forcing a corner curled across by Xabi Alonso. Barcelona’s defending was wretched, gifting space for Benatia to head past Ter Stegen.

Bayern’s fans kept expressing their unconditional support but their dream lasted eight minutes, reality stamping on reverie. What unfolded in the 15th and 29th minutes was both brutal and beautiful. On both occasions, Messi was the architect with the vision. Espying Suárez’s run, the Argentine picked out the Uruguayan and Bayern’s back line was breached.

Suárez could have gone for himself but he paused, then played the ball across for Neymar. The Brazilian instantly stroked the ball low past the diving Neuer. Bayern needed four.

Barcelona celebrated and then set about chasing a second which would surely put the tie beyond Bayern. Again they broke swiftly. Again, Bayern’s defending was pathetic. Does Guardiola not drill them?

Again, Messi was the instigator, rising high to flick the ball through for the alert Suárez to run on to. Again, Suárez was commendably generous, lifting the ball across for Neymar to demonstrate the ruthless nature of his finishing. The Brazilian chested the ball down and then, ignoring Jerome Boateng’s vainful challenge, placed it between Neuer and the keeper’s right-hand upright.

The clinical nature of Neymar’s finishing contrasted with Bayern’s. Lewandowski had a shot saved by the excellent Ter Stegen, who then collected a weak strike from Müller. Meeting a Bernat cross after 37 minutes, Schweinsteiger headed powerfully goalwards but Ter Stegen pushed the ball out.

The former Borussia Moenchengladbach keeper then did brilliantly to dive to his left and claw away an effort from Lewandowski on the line.

Bayern were given a glimmer of hope at the break when Suárez, who had been rubbing his back, was replaced by Pedro.

The noise levels remained high, rising just before the hour when Lewandowski made it 2-2.

The Polish international skilfully worked some space around Javier Mascherano and shot past Ter Stegen from the edge of the area.

With 16 minutes left, Schweinsteiger teed up Müller, whose side-footed strike fizzed past Ter Stegen. “Bayern really fought and fought, wanting to turn this game around,’’ said Enrique. It was not enough. It was never likely to be against a team with Messi.